Artist captures 'election fever' on canvas

The ongoing 'election fever' across the country has been captured in artist Ghazali Moinuddin's landscapes, who is celebrating the "festival" of democracy in his new solo show.
The untitled artwork is part of the three-day long exhibition titled 'Kun Faya Kun' that has on display 45 paintings projecting the artist's imagination on canvas.
"In India elections are no less than a festival, so I wanted to create that spirit on my canvas. And I am not deviating from my routine landscape drawing, because here too you can see a landscape," the artist told PTI.
Dedicated to the election season, the painting shows kites symbolising different political parties flying in the sky, against a backdrop of the Indian tri-colour.

"To me, the painting captures multiple emotions on one canvas. The flying kites depict the spirit of different political parties, with kites cross-cutting each other, symbolising a healthy competition. The tri-colour in the background is for inspiration," he says.
The artist, who has been painting landscapes by recreating beautiful elements of nature since the past 15 years, says that he draws inspiration from his "imagination and nothing else".

"Do not think that Kashmir or some other picturesque place inspired me. What you see on the canvas is my imagination and nothing else.
"I have hardly visited these mountains or hill stations. And memories of the few places that I have been to, have only disturbed my imagination," he says.

Moinuddin, who refrains from sending across a message through his artworks, feels that a "painting" turns into an "illustration" as soon the artist tries to convey a message through it.
"My paintings talk about my imagination. They don't convey or preach any message. Visitors can always extract the message they want to because I have no control over their imagination," he says.
A teacher at the Jamia Milia Islamia University here, the artist has named his paintings in Urdu with titles like Husn-e-Shabistan (Beauty of Garden) or 'Nagme-e-Khamosh (Song of Silence).
Having couplets from the works of his favourite poet Allama Iqbal displayed next to his paintings, Moinuddin says "sufi music and poetry" drives him to create art.

The show underway India Habitat Centre here, has artworks priced between Rs 25,000 to nearly 2 lakhs. It will come to a close on February 9.